Ooh, a scanner sized to "encourage" people to use sensibly sized hand luggage? I like that The only thing that makes me line up early when boarding a plane these days is that I want to secure space for my small bag in the overhead lockers - I need every bit of leg room I can get. Some people have bigger hand luggage than my checked luggage, and often two pieces, and the luggage bins are filled to overflowing in no time.

Just a few more hours now, and I'll be enjoying the, umm, comforts of long haul air travel once again

The other thing the airlines could do to overcome the oversize carry on would be to not charge for check-in, and also to be efficient in delivering check-in back to travellers on arrival, to stop an extensive delay. And it would save them time and bother related to dealing with 'does not fit' carry on. Other possibility would be if carry on does not fit they look through all the lockers for the biggest thing and then charge a genuinely punitive 'take it to the hold' fee, so that traveller ends up with both inconveniences - a high hidden extra AND a long wait to get it back. It would also make the work of security scanning easier.

The other thing the airlines could do to overcome the oversize carry on would be ...

I thought there are strict dimensions that carry on luggage has to adhere to? There isn't really a problem to overcome, if your hand luggage is too large, it doesn't fly The budget airlines even have little metal cages standing around at check-in and the gate that have the right dimensions, if they ask you to put your carry on in there and it doesn't fit, that's bad luck for you.

I thought there are strict dimensions that carry on luggage has to adhere to? There isn't really a problem to overcome, if your hand luggage is too large, it doesn't fly The budget airlines even have little metal cages standing around at check-in and the gate that have the right dimensions, if they ask you to put your carry on in there and it doesn't fit, that's bad luck for you.

There are, but many airlines are too squeamish to assail their customers with the message that the carry on exceeds by a little. And I have seen those standard crates at airports but have never seen anyone, at a full service airline, asked to test their stuff in front of check in staff. When I went through Toulouse last I was worried because my carry on included a glass jar about the size of a soccer ball in a box just large enough to fit it. It did get through.

---------- Post added 11-01-15 at 06:05 PM ----------

Originally posted by CarlG

Almost cheese = American slices = Slices of an American? I will stick to my goat cheese. There's nothing "almost" about goats!

I heard on the radio recently a little boy asked at a school excursion to a farm: 'what's in shepherd's pie?'. Clearly the boy thought the question was: 'what's in shepherds pie?' and he answered: "shepherds'.

---------- Post added 11-01-15 at 06:07 PM ----------

Mark must be happy today. Maybe so happy he cannot respond to this thread. Men in black won.

I heard on the radio recently a little boy asked at a school excursion to a farm: 'what's in shepherd's pie?'. Clearly the boy thought the question was: 'what's in shepherds pie?' and he answered: "shepherds'

I thought there are strict dimensions that carry on luggage has to adhere to? There isn't really a problem to overcome, if your hand luggage is too large, it doesn't fly The budget airlines even have little metal cages standing around at check-in and the gate that have the right dimensions, if they ask you to put your carry on in there and it doesn't fit, that's bad luck for you.

Originally posted by tim60

There are, but many airlines are too squeamish to assail their customers with the message that the carry on exceeds by a little. And I have seen those standard crates at airports but have never seen anyone, at a full service airline, asked to test their stuff in front of check in staff. When I went through Toulouse last I was worried because my carry on included a glass jar about the size of a soccer ball in a box just large enough to fit it. It did get through.

I traveled to San Antonio from Seattle and back last week via United to attend the funeral of one of my aunts. This was the first time I had flown commercial in almost 20 years.

The security screening process was not as bad as I anticipated. I have an artificial hip, and suspected it might trigger a more close look at my person. It did, and I was asked to submit to a quick pat down, then allowed to proceed.

What I did observe was how many morons attempted to board the plane with carry on bags that clearly exceeded the size limits. All but a few were stopped and directed to place tags on the bags and surrender them to be placed in the cargo hold.

There was one woman who was able to get on one of the planes with not only oversized carry on but also more than the allowed small bag and small personal item She had a large shopping bag filled with large gift wrapped packages. Being one of the last to board she struggled to find room in the overhead compartment. The stewardess tried to help, but the passenger objected when her stuff became scattered about. During the flight she fussed and fidgeted, and got into her too large bag in the overhead several times. She pestered the flight attendants and other passengers incessantly and was a pain in the ass to everyone.

Flying commercial sucks.

Stoopit people make it even more unpleasant.

Oh, and the flights were on an Airbus A320 and an Embraer ERJ170. The fit and finish of the Airbus planes was poor in comparison to the planes I build. The Embraer was a smaller commuter plane, noisy and uncomfortable to ride in.

Since I would prefer to drive rather than fly commercial it may be a long time, if ever that
I fly again. But if I do, I'm gonna ask to fly the best.